In civil law, an attempt is made to settle a dispute between individuals or companies. If there are any victims, they will get compensation from the person who caused the wrongdoing. If people argue over money, an agreement is reached over how to share the money.

In civil cases, the two sides are called the claimant and the defendant. Either side can be an individual or a company or a public authority.

Civil disputes needn't always go to court: independent arbitrators (who agree who is right or wrong) or mediators (who help the two parties reach a decision) can be used instead.

If civil disputes go to court, they normally go to a county court, where the case would be decided by a single judge. The judge has the power to order one side to pay compensation to another or to tell one party to act differently in future. Some civil cases go to a tribunal: a panel of people who have authority to make decisions about a particular issue.